Barkah News

Along with China and India, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has voiced optimism that Indonesia will emerge as one of the new economic superpowers. With the transition from the West to Asia, we have entered "the Asian century." Another change in the economy's growth pattern is Asia. In his opening remarks at the BNI Investor Daily Summit 2024, held on Tuesday, October 8, at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Senayan, Jakarta, President Jokowi stated that three new economic powers—India, China, and Indonesia—are expected to emerge in Asia. But he also cautioned that Indonesia would have to overcome many obstacles and fulfill a number of standards in order to accomplish that aim. Thus, the President continued, maintaining optimism is essential while dealing with a variety of global issues, including as the effects of climate change, economic downturns, and heightened geopolitical tensions. He said that all of these have an impact on the world economy, which includ...

RIYADH: A renowned Saudi Arabian historian has stated that just a handful of tribes subsequently identified as Arabs resided in the region currently known as the Arabian Peninsula in antiquity and modern times, with other ethnicities only briefly residing there. During a panel discussion titled "Ancient Arabic Writings" at the Riyadh International Book Fair, Dr. Suleiman Al-Theeb, a professor of ancient Arabic inscriptions at King Saud University, shared some of his research findings. The panelists focused on the deep-rooted cultural heritage of the Kingdom and the Arabian Peninsula, the Saudi Press Agency said on Sunday. The Kingdom's Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission arranged the fair, which took place from September 26 to October 5. Al-Theeb discussed the meanings of texts in Arabic script and old Arab inscriptions throughout the debates. He said that in the eighth and ninth centuries B.C.E., during the Assyrian era, a group of tribes were referred to ...

RIYADH: According to the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, the Kingdom had an 8.2 percent increase in international tourist expenditure in the first half of 2024 as compared to the same period in 2023. Approximately SR92.6 billion ($24.5 billion) was spent in all. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Kingdom also declared a surplus in the travel account, estimated to be worth SR41.6 billion. The Kingdom has seen a rise in visitor expenditure, which is one of the major trends in the tourism industry. According to the UN World Tourism Organization, during the first seven months of 2024, compared with the same period in 2019, the Kingdom led the list of G20 countries in terms of growth in the number of foreign visitors and growth in international tourism income. The data released validates the efficacy of the measures implemented by the tourism system to attain worldwide leadership in the industry. These measures include the utilization of optimal tourism development practices, enhancement o...

RIYADH: AlUla, the iconic center of the Incense Road, has announced that tickets for this year's Ancient Kingdoms Festival, which kicks off on November 7, are now available for purchase. The festival offers a range of unique experiences situated among historical landmarks. According to an official statement, the festival, which is presented by AlUla Moments, is back this year with an incredible lineup of daytime discoveries, action-packed exploration, and theatrical after-dark journeys that are inspired by the ancient stories of AlUla and are performed by some of the best immersive experience creators in the world. Among the participating heritage sites are the mudbrick maze of AlUla's Old Town, which is regarded as one of the best tourist villages in the world; Wadi Al-Naam, a breathtaking valley filled with famous rock art; and the Nabataean city of Hegra, which was named Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the events is the "Incense Road Experien...

The United States' New York On Friday, September 27, 2024, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi met with Azerbaijan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov at the High-level Week of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, USA (27/9). The two foreign ministers signed the Diplomatic and Service Visa Free Agreement (PBVDD) between Russia and Azerbaijan to begin the meeting. "I believe that this agreement will enhance diplomatic relations and facilitate closer cooperation between the two countries... which will bring greater collaboration in the future," Retno stated. In a bilateral discussion at the UN headquarters in New York, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Bayramov referred to Indonesia as a crucial ally. Bayramov emphasized that Azerbaijan wants to keep up its highest level of bilateral cooperation with Indonesia. Additionally, the two foreign ministers decided to intensify their collaboration in a number of international cooperation pl...

RIYADH: On Tuesday, the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, in partnership with a number of Saudi universities, administered the Hamza Arabic language proficiency test for non-native speakers.  The academy strives to improve Arabic's standing internationally, encourage its use, and support the objectives of the Human Capacity Development Program under Vision 2030.  The computerized exam, which lasts 155 minutes and consists of 75 questions, evaluates non-native speakers in four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. It is designed to target Arabic language teachers and students at universities and educational institutions. Participating universities include Umm Al-Qura University, Islamic University of Madinah, King Abdulaziz University, King Faisal University, Taif University, Qassim University, and Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University.  By administering the Hamza test, the academy seeks to elevate Arabic’s scientific and global status,...

Indonesia's Jakarta "Harmony for the Pacific: Connecting Indonesia and the Pacific through Culture and Shared Heritage" (HfP) is a cultural diplomacy and collaboration mission that will take place in Suva, Fiji and Indonesia from September 9–27, 2024. It is being organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek). A major component of Pacific Elevation's big goal, Harmony for the Pacific, is to improve ties between Indonesians and Pacific Islanders. The two (two) primary components of Harmony for the Pacific are art and cultural performances and artist residencies. From September 9–17, 2024, 24 music and dance artists from the Pacific (Fiji, Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia) and Indonesia (Maluku, NTT, and Papua) participated in the first phase of the artist residency program in Labuan Bajo and Maumere. September 10, 2024 marked the opening of the firs...